NHL Trade Talk Recap: Maple Leafs, Oilers & Canadiens With Huge Free Agency Wins

In today’s NHL Trade Talk Recap (July 1, 2026), day one of NHL free agency provided tons of action. There’s big NHL offseason news: the Toronto Maple Leafs got Sergei Bobrovsky on a three-year deal. The Edmonton Oilers traded Darnell Nurse to San Jose to free up cap room. And the Montreal Canadiens signed Ivan Demidov to a huge eight-year extension.

Bobrovsky Signs 3-Year Deal With Maple Leafs

Sergei Bobrovsky signed with the Maple Leafs on a three-year deal worth $7 million per season. Elliotte Friedman reports it’s a move that ends his time in Florida and gives Toronto a goalie with real championship pedigree heading into next season.

Florida moved on quickly after trading for Jacob Markstrom and adding Akira Schmid. Bobrovsky, 38 in September, was coming off his $70 million deal in Florida and wanted something around six years and $42 million. Although it wasn’t that long of a term, Toronto had the cap space to make the contract fit.

Sergei Bobrovsky Signs 3-Year Deal With Maple Leafs

Nurse Is Gone: Edmonton Trades Him to San Jose

The Oilers officially traded Darnell Nurse to the San Jose Sharks, and the rumours are finally done. San Jose was expected to be the landing spot, with Shakir Mukhamadullin coming back—and Edmonton isn’t retaining any salary.

For Edmonton, the big win is clearing Nurse’s full $9.25 million cap hit, which should open the door to more moves before training camp. For San Jose, it’s a major addition of a veteran leader, and for both teams, it feels like a real “new chapter” kind of trade.

Oilers Trade Darnell Nurse to Sharks in Blockbuster Deal

Demidov Stays in Montreal (8 Years)

Ivan Demidov and the Canadiens agreed to an eight-year extension at $9.125 million a year. As well, it includes $58 million in signing bonuses. Additionally, it includes a 10-team no-trade clause for the last three years.

LeBrun’s breakdown has Demidov’s signing bonus money ramping over the deal. And it also bumps him above Lane Hutson as Montreal’s top cap hit once it kicks in. It comes right after his rookie season (19 goals, 62 points in 82 games) helped push the Canadiens to the Eastern Conference Final.

Highest Paid Hab: Canadiens Ink Long-Term Deal With Ivan Demidov

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Today’s Posts

• Devils Make Surprising Offer Sheet Move — Now Utah Stuck In UFA Loophole
• Oilers Re-Sign Kasperi Kapanen to 1-Year Deal
• Oilers’ GM Gives Surprising Answer When Asked About Tristan Jarry
• Utah Mammoth Sign Anders Lee to 3-Year Deal
• Maple Leafs Trade Dennis Hildeby to Tampa Bay for Nick Paul
• Paul to the Maple Leafs Is OK: Hildeby Might Hurt
• Nurse Replacement?: Oilers Sign Ryan Shea to 5-Year Deal
• Vincent Trocheck Being Traded to the Utah Mammoth
• Blueger Is the Player You Count on in May: Great Maple Leafs Get
• Werenski Open to Returning to Blue Jackets, Trade Not on Radar
• Oilers Acquire Devon Levi, Solidify Goaltending Tandem With Tristan Jarry
• Islanders Cash In on Long-Time Target in Maccelli Gamble
• Jacob Trouba Signs Four-Year Deal With San Jose Sharks
• Maple Leafs Add Jack Roslovic on Two-Year Deal
• Stuart Skinner Signs with Jets, Does This Impact a Connor Hellebuyck Trade?
• Red Wings Sign Viktor Arvidsson as a Middle-Six Offence Boost
• Golden Knights Sign Rasmus Andersson to 7-Year Extension
• Lightning Sign Ilya Mikheyev to 4-Year Deal
• Maple Leafs Talking to Colton Sissons: What Would He Add?
• Mason Marchment Signing 5-Year Deal with San Jose Sharks
• Kings Sign Mats Zuccarello to One-Year Deal, Add Erik Gustafsson
• Kings Sign Erik Haula to a 2-Year Deal 
• 3 Reasons It Was Past Time to Trade Nick Robertson
• Panthers Bring Back Radko Gudas on Six-Year Deal
• Oilers Let Ingram Hit Free Agency, Edmonton Has Eyes Elsewhere
• Toronto Trading Nick Robertson to the Pittsburgh Penguins
• Predators Finalizing Trade and Extension for Mavrik Bourque
• Maple Leafs Catch Two Big Breaks on the Zach Werenski Trade Front
• Teams Out There Bidding on Top UFA “Gonna Have to Look in Another Direction”
• Darnell Nurse to Pittsburgh Hinges on Taking Back Penguins Defenseman
• Blackhawks Sign Bowen Byram to Huge Extension, Other Chicago Free Agency Buzz
• No Nurse Trade Will Impact Oilers and Free Agency, With One Possible Exception
• Connor Hellebuyck and the Latest On 4 Teams Linked to His Blockbuster Trade
• It’s Getting Ugly: Will Werenski Calm Down Enough to be Traded?
• It’s Lightning or Maple Leafs as Werenski Turns Down Trade to Stars